Berlin

Eco-friendly travel guide to Berlin advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to explore the attractions in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Berlin, Germany.

Aerial View of Berlin

Air quality: 3 / 5

Exploring by foot: 3.5 / 5

Exploring by bicycle: 3.5 / 5

Public transportation: 4 / 5

Parks: 4 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4 / 5

Locals' English level: 2.5 / 5

Safety: 4 / 5

Accommodation: US$25 - $1000

Budget per day: US$40 - $1200

Responsible Travel

Berlin is the capital of Germany and is the first choice of many travellers visiting the country. You will have lots to see and lots to explore. The city is home to a population of almost 3.8 million people hence the city has found many green alternatives to ensure that the carbon footprint per capita. Being one of the greenest cities in the entire continent of Europe, you will find a slew of measures being undertaken these include sustainable markets, green modes of transport, and various incentives to eco-friendly travellers.

Almost one-third of the entire city is made up of greenery this includes an intricate network of lakes, canals, and rivers. The city is along for leading in terms of environmental norms and initiatives, some of these are discussed under in the section of the article and as a tourist you too could follow them to truly be eco-friendly.

In the first case, it is recommended that you be an eco-friendly tourist by making use of the various means of public transportation. The capital city of Germany is known to be home to some of the most efficient means of private transportation but these aren't always sustainable as a result of this you are suggested to take the subway which is known as Bahn. Also, you can consider the use of electric vehicles, however, the best means of transportation in the city is known to be cycling.

Whenever you travel to another city it is essential that you buy from local markets that operate on a business model based on sustainability. Though the country of [[Germany on a whole might be extremely capitalist, you will find some stores that will cater to your every need without negatively impacting the environment. More so, these are known to house some true gems that give you an insight into the local culture and traditions. Similarly, this can be said about the food markets, where you get to purchase some fresh produce at great rates.

Keeping up the trend, as a tourist, try heading to the local restaurants instead of global food chains. These small restaurants that are situated in the city will introduce you to the authentic cuisine of Germany and perhaps even some of the choicest of ancient recipes. This, on the whole, will be a lot cheaper and it will also elevate your dining experience on the whole. In addition to this, try and eat at organic cafe’s and indulge in some vegan and vegetarian cuisine as far as possible.

Lastly, it is recommended that you stay-in on a hotel that is certified as a green hotel. These will provide you with a host of amenities in the most possible sustainable manner. This includes minimised consumption of energy, maximum use of natural lighting, use of efficient appliances, and eliminating single-use products. These will help you have a relaxed stay without impacting the environment too much.

Air Quality and Pollution

The air quality in Berlin is known to be quite decent by global standards. Being one of the most reputed cities in [[Europe[[ and the biggest city in Germany, you can expect a decent amount of measures being taken by the authorities to ensure clean air. However, when the air quality is compared to some of the major European cities, it is observed that the air in Berlin is quite polluted, while it may not exactly be as bad as cities in Asian nations, the pollution is quite visible to the naked eye especially for those tourists who originally hail from cities free from air pollution. Nitrogen oxides are the major reason behind pollution in the city and though you will not face troubles in breathing while doing day to day activities, it may affect you in the longer run, especially if you are outdoors for long spells of time and if you have pre-existing breathing illnesses.

The weather in the city is known to be pretty comfortable all throughout the year. With a good deal of warmth and sunshine for a few months and icy winds blowing through a few months, you can enjoy a good contrast throughout the year. On the whole, the weather conditions aren’t too extreme and you shall see a maximum daily high of mid-20-degree centigrades during the summer months and barely 2 to 5-degree centigrades through the winter months while the daily lowest shall be around 13-degree centigrades during the summer months and around the zero degrees centigrade mark during the winter months. With moderate rainfall and a bit of snow, you can expect an overall good climate here in Berlin. Hence, it is recommended that you pack your clothes according to the season in which you are travelling to the city.

Respect the Culture

The people of Germany are known to be quite serious and reserved to outsiders. They are not the kind that crack up easily, nor are they too social, and finding a chatty German is very difficult, especially if you are a tourist wandering about Berlin which happens to be not just the capital city or the largest city in the country, it is also the most densely populated city, where people are always in a rush and too pre-occupied to socialise. Having a conversation with a local German is a good start but you have to ensure that you hit all the right notes to avoid upsetting him/her or wrecking a prospect even before getting things started. Germans take pride in their system, security and dependability. They are frugal, persevering and productive. Germans regard hairsplitting in every aspect of business and private life. In Berlin, there is a feeling of oneness and togetherness and a powerful urge for having a place in society. Keeping this in mind, we urge you to follow a few of the tips given below, if you wish to show respect to German people, their culture and their traditions.

Always begin by greeting a German in Berlin with a nice smile, a warm demeanour, a good amount of professionalism and a good body language. Their body language isn’t friendly and is often defensive at first, if you can come across much more approachable and open without violating their space, it shall help you break the ice with much ease. At the same time, try and avoid tucking your hands in your pocket or making rude gestures. Your body language also extends to the way your dress and present yourself, being too laid back could also seen as disrespect.

In a city such as Berlin especially, where life is known to be very hectic, you simply cannot be late to any sort of commitment, the local people are known to be extremely punctual and whether it is a meeting or it is a date, it is suggested that you be a few minutes early to avoid upsetting anyone. Conventional great habits require the man to stroll ahead of a lady when strolling into a public spot. This is an image of security and of the man driving the lady. A man should open the entryway for a lady and permit her to stroll into the building, at which time the lady will stop and be patient until the man rejoins her. The man should then continue to lead the lady to her destination. On the off chance that the two are setting off to an eatery, the man may give up his influential position to the attendant.

Beyond this, you are recommended to not be very loose with your compliments and flirts, women may not particularly like it, nor shall any man. You aren’t going to be regarded as a friend instantaneously, rather you’d have to earn it. Beyond this, the obvious tips of avoiding conversations about Nazis, World Wars, Adolf Hitler, and German politics always applies. More so, you are also suggested to avoid getting into heated discussions or losing your temper in public places. Take any sort of feedback and criticism in good spirit and show respect to an elderly person at any place. Women here are known to be quite strong personalities and they will not bow down so treat them as an equal, do not be casually sexist and racist comments are obviously not even a passing thought here in Berlin. If you stick to most of the above, you shall succeed in being a “good tourist” in the eyes of the local people.

Top 10 Places to Visit

East Side Gallery: Warschauer Straße station is the spot to begin a stroll adjacent to the longest safeguarded stretch of the Berlin Wall. Painted by Dimitri Vrubel in 1990, it was reestablished by the craftsman in 2009 as a major aspect of a progressing battle to safeguard the most acclaimed pictures despite disintegration and labelling. The enduring picture portrays GDR pioneer Erich Honecker and General Secretary of the Communist Party Leonid Brezhnev secured a kiss. The vast majority of the work is strong, bright and provocative. Each fix has been embellished with craftsmanship, transforming this into the world's longest open-air exhibition. A portion of the wall paintings have stood out forever and are permanent, while others are continually being supplanted and refreshed.

*Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer: Some of the most vital pictures from the beginning of the Berlin Wall were recorded at Bernauer Straße where there's currently a dedication to this acclaimed wall. Across Bernauer Straße is the guest memorial, which annals the divider, from when it was first implemented to its possible destruction. A significant lot of the divider has been protected here, including the Todesstreifen known as the Death Strip in the middle of, and a lookout next to the road. There's additionally a five-story watch tower giving you a genuine feeling of the partition. This entire segment is cut off as a perpetual remembrance to the individuals who lost their carries on with attempting to go somewhere in the range of three decades beginning from the 1960s.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe: Set on what used to be the "passing piece of the Berlin Wall" are 2,711 solid squares of differing statures, in a matrix design on an undulating open space that loans the dedication a wavelike structure. Not a long way from the Brandenburg Gate is the grave and incredible dedication to the holocaust, planned by the New York planner Peter Eisenman. The squares are on 54 north-south lines, and 87 opposite east-west lines. The remembrance urges you to communicate and reflect, and there's additionally an underground display, an organization of themed rooms offers a foundation on Jewish survivors of the holocaust, with life stories, letters and belongings of a portion of the people in question.

Topography of Terror: Like the Memorial to the Murdered Jews, the Topography of Terror remains as another calming message for people in the future. On Niederkirchnerstrasse is the previous area of the Gestapo and SS, two names that are immediately associated with conceivably the most scandalous period in European history. There's an outdoors presentation on the unearthed remains of the base camp, reviewing life in Berlin during the Third Reich, the account of the SS and Gestapo, their key figures and the deeds that were plotted at this spot. The central command for these establishments was besieged in the war and afterwards pulled down a short time later, before being surrendered on the course of the divider, which actually remains here.

Alexanderplatz: The biggest square in Germany and a fiery vehicle centre, Alexanderplatz is one of the most unique and energizing corners of Berlin. It was totally decimated in the Second World War and owes its appearance to a GDR venture during the 1960s. A great deal of the GDR's solid engineering stays, most broadly in the remarkable outline of the Fernsehturm. In those days "Alex" was the area of numerous public social events, remembering the quiet fights against the divider for 1989. The pace of change since the divider descended has been sensational, and following advancements like the Alexa shopping centre, Alexanderplatz is a significant shopping and amusement objective indeed. This previous motorcade ground turned into the city's principal shopping area toward the beginning of the twentieth century.

Tränenpalast: West Berliners making short visits toward the east would get back from here, and the name Tränenpalast originates from the sad farewells that would occur before the station. Additionally beholding back to the times of the divider is a lobby at Friedrichstraße Station, the main westward fringe crossing via train, U-Bahn and S-Bahn connect. There are many unique ancient rarities to bring the truth home, while the first signs and guidance boards have been protected are still set up. The old terminal has a show utilizing firsthand records by individuals who made the excursion between the years 1962 and 1990, portraying the tough safety efforts and checking.

Checkpoint Charlie: The name originates from the phonetic letters in order where Charlie means the letter C, as Checkpoint Charlie was the third such outskirt crossing set up by the partners in the city. The convergence of Friedrichstraße and Zimmerstraße is the site of the unbelievable fringe going among East and West Berlin. This very spot was nearly the location of a calamity in 1961 when American and Soviet Tanks remained off against one another for six days toward the finish of October. Afterwards, in 1962, it saw the demise of Peter Fechter, a young person shot attempting to cross from East to West. Presently the guardhouse and blockades in the focal point of the road merit a photograph as you cruise by.

Gedächtniskirche: The church was essential for the Kaiser's cross country development venture to avert the developing work development, and was named after his granddad. The first Kaiser Wilhelm Church was implicit the 1890s and had a Neo-Romanesque style. In the end, the engineer Egon Eiermann planned a new church which was advanced in every sense close to the remains. Since the old one was severely harmed in a besieging attack in 1943, and after the war there was a major discussion about whether it ought to be pulled down or modified. The enduring, harmed pinnacle of the old church stays as a dedication, holding an enemy of war presentation with a cross produced using nails gathered from Coventry Cathedral, besieged by the Nazis in 1940. The new structure has dividers trimmed with in excess of 20,000 blue recoloured glass boards and blessed in 1961.

Konzerthaus Berlin: Check the season pass or a few tickets ahead of time and purchase, borrow, steal or even beg to get a seat, as the acoustics in the Konzerthaus are appraised in the five biggest concert halls on the planet. As the Königliches Schauspielhaus, and afterwards the Preußisches Staatstheater, the most distinguished entertainers of the nineteenth century walked and performed here. The remains were left immaculate until the structure was resuscitated as a show lobby and the scene for the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, now the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. It worked up to its limit until the Second World War when it was bombarded out.

Spandau Citadel: The four-bastioned fortress came to fruition around the pinnacle in the latter half of the sixteenth century, and was attacked by the Swedes in 1674 and taken by Napoleon's soldiers in 1806. As you go in, you'll perceive how tombstones from a middle-age Jewish graveyard were reused in the stronghold's dividers, and the Commander's House accounts the fortification's momentous history. Julius Tower is the image for the bastion, 35 meters high and a leftover from an archaic mansion originating before the Renaissance post by around 300 years. In winter the vaulted basements are a safe house for many flying fox bats, and there are bat-themed visits for a more intensive look of these innocuous animals. Charged as outstanding amongst other protected Renaissance strongholds in Europe, the Spandau Citadel additionally contains the most established enduring structure in Berlin thereby making it one of the must-visit places in Berlin.

Gedenkstätte Berliner Mauer

Explore

Berlin is one of the most well-known cities across the globe and one of the biggest reasons behind this is the fact that the city is the capital of the country of Germany. In addition to this, it is also the biggest and the most populous city in the country. As a direct result of this, the city has developed by leaps and bounds, it is home to a blend of rich culture and modern developments both of which serve to be fantastic attractions for the tourists that are visiting the country. Hence, you shall find Berlin to be immensely popular amongst tourists and given in this section of the article are some of the famous parks, landmarks and museums that you must visit for an enriching experience.

City Parks

Tiergarten: Just as the numerous European city parks the Tiergarten was previously a chasing ground for the Electors of Brandenburg before being redone during the 1830s by the Prussian draftsman Peter Joseph Lenné. It's a huge belt of thick foliage, flowed by the Landwehr Canal and spreading west from the Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag. In the wake of rushing around the huge hitting sights and exhibition halls, the Tiergarten could be a serene recess. Past giving some rest from the city the Tiergarten is woven with landmarks like the Bismarck remembrance, and beautiful spots like the Luiseninsel and rose nursery for you to explore. Schloss Bellevue, the official home of the President of Germany, is in the Tiergarten.

Treptower Park: The recreation centre was arranged in the English style and spawns over a large area, made out of bountiful yards, tree forests and a rose nursery. Summer is the point at which the recreation centre is at its best as you can stroll next to the waterway for four kilometres or catch a vessel for a voyage on the Spree. A brisk ride on the S-Bahn takes you to Treptower Park close to the Spree in the southeast of Berlin. Directly after the war, a colossal dedication and burial ground was worked for the 80,000 Soviet officers who passed on in the Battle of Berlin. This paves the way to a sculpture of a Soviet trooper holding a German youngster and remaining on a crushed insignia. It was East Germany's main war dedication and is a huge outfit of figures, including a focal region fixed with 16 stone coffins, one for every one of the Soviet republics.

Sanssouci Park: All over the recreation centre are magnificent imprudences of sanctuaries and small scale Rococo castles, which were regularly utilized as a convenience to compensate for the lack of guestrooms in the royal residence itself. From that point onward, you have the tremendous region of the recreation centre to cover, and its wellsprings, lakes and forests of grand mature trees. One clarification for the moderately unobtrusive size of the royal residence is that the lord needed to benefit as much as possible from the open air space. That grape plantation before the castle was planted with plants from France, Italy and Portugal compelled, and underneath this is a Baroque parterre, demonstrated on Versailles and sprinkled with tapered boxwood shrubberies and marble sculptures of legendary figures.

Tiergarten

National Parks

Jasmund National Park: This reduced down National Park might be Germany's littlest, yet don't let the size imbecile you from taking off chalk precipices to shocking beech forests, the normal quality here is more than stunning. Walk around the climbing trails to look for orchids, hawks, and uncommon plants, or jump on your bicycle for a loosening up ride along the Baltic Sea.

The Bastei: This Saxon Switzerland rock arrangement is among the locale's most striking milestones and it's high as can be excellence and immaculate environmental factors gesture to the landmass' topographical past. History aficionados will have an uncommon affection for the recreation centre and the famous Basteibrucke Bridge drives straightforwardly to the fourteenth-century stronghold of Neurathen and its all-encompassing perspectives on the Elbasandsteine.

Nationalpark Harz: This can be genuinely considered as your pass to heaven. Spread across both Niedersachsen and Sachsen-Anhalt, this tremendous district is loaded up with such a gorge, valleys, and forest hideaways you see sprinkled over the cinema. Go through an early evening time spotting bats and pigs on the climbing trails, however, make a point to spending enough an ideal opportunity for a ride on the Brockenbach. This nineteenth-century railroad takes you on a move to Brocken Mountain's pinnacle, it actually works on a nostalgic steam motor.

Jasmund National Park

Beaches

Berlin is a truly landlocked city and those travellers who are water-babies and love spending time in the ocean or on the sands under the sun shall be disappointed here. There are a few beaches that can be explored but they are hundreds of miles away from Berlin and aren’t easily accessible when you are on a trip to the city. Also, these beaches are so far away that you might as well be travelling not just to another city but a different state altogether.

Landmarks

Brandenburg Gate: For beginners and new tourists in Berlin the Brandenburg Gate is compulsory, and it's associated with genuine feeling and significance, as an ever-present milestone during the decimation of the Second World War and the Berlin Wall when it remained at the gap. Where Unter nook Linden meets with Ebertstraße stands what might be Germany's most conspicuous sight. At the top is the Quadriga, a chariot pulled by four ponies, all upheld by twelve Doric sections framing five paths. This stately landmark was raised at the turn of the late 18th century at the command of the Prussian King Frederick William II, on the site of one of Berlin's previous gates of defence.

Siegessäule: The entire landmark once remained before the Reichstag, yet was moved in 1938-39 to its present spot at the focal point of a traffic circle as a feature of Hitler's yearning intend to rebuild Berlin as "World Capital Germania". For a little expense, you can tridge the 285 stages of the winding flight of stairs to look out for the Tiergarten and Berlin 51 meters over the recreation centre. However, it would likewise come to speak to a huge number of different triumphs in that period, over Austria and afterwards France in 1870-71. Following these victories a model of Victoria was added to the head of the segment, weighing 35 tons. The Victory Column was inherent in 1864 after the thrashing of Denmark in the Danish-Prussian War. Where the streets unite in the Tiergarten there's another huge photograph opportunity.

Fernsehturm: Raised close to Alexanderplatz in the last part of the sixties, the Fernsehturm which means Television Tower was planned as an exceptionally noticeable image of socialist force in East Berlin. The Fernsehturm is likewise the most noteworthy structure in Europe open to the general population, the forty-second ride to the review stage two hundred meters high is something you can't turn down when you are touring the city. From this peak, you can focus in on the minutest subtleties with a telescope, and there's additionally a spinning eatery, which requires a touch of pre-arranging in the event that you need a table. Still the second tallest structure in the entirety of the European Union, it is as much milestone for Berlin as the Reichstag or the Brandenburg Gate.

Reichstag: This Neo-Baroque structure dates from 1894 and housed the Imperial Diet until it was harmed in that notorious and noteworthy fire in 1933. The vestiges were just kept up until after the Berlin Wall fell. Also, when it descended a reclamation venture by Norman Foster started to revive the Reichstag as a symbol of a brought together Germany. This milestone that summarises the dramatisation of the twentieth century in Berlin is the Reichstag, the gathering spot of the German Parliament. The arrangement includes another glass arch for which you can peer down on the discussing chamber and take in Berlin's cityscape, all while snared to a sound guide.

Brandenburg Gate

Museums

Museum Island: As a tourist, if you plan to visit some of the best Museums in the world, there is no chance that you would miss out on Museum Island which is situated here in Berlin. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum Island on the Spree is a group of five world-beating museums. These are the Altes Museum, Alte National Galerie, Neues Museum, Bode-Museum and the Pergamon Museum. The principal organization to open was the Altes Museum in 1830, planned by Karl Friedrich Schinkel who drew up a few Neoclassical landmarks around Berlin in that period. The museums were additionally a chance to flaunt the lavishness and modernity of the Prussian illustrious assortments and the products of its nineteenth-century victories. This little area, and the more extensive thought of a museum as a scene for public illumination, is a result of the Enlightenment and plans were getting underway in the mid-nineteenth century. The latter was the Pergamon Forum from 1930, while the Neues Museum from 1859 was resumed in 2009 having been destroyed in the war.

Pergamon Museum: The Second-Century Pergamon Altar is the piece that gives the museum its name, a flight of stairs and colonnade on a platform decorated with a frieze in high alleviation depicting scenes from Greek folklore. At the Pergamon Museum, you'll encounter epic antiquated landmarks from the Near East, acquired pieces to Berlin from the 1910s and remade in these displays.

Gemäldegalerie: Paintings by Europe's most noteworthy craftsmen up to the eighteenth century are in store at the Gemäldegalerie, one of the world's top artistic work museums. For presentation, we're discussing Botticelli, Albrecht Dürer, Rubens, Rembrandt, Hans Holbein, Raphael, Vermeer, Botticelli and a lot beyond what we can list here. This abundance of paintings wasn't amassed by a solitary family, however, was curated by the Prussian Government from 1815 as a cross-part of European craftsmanship. You have over a thousand top-notch works to see, by a great many experts, so don't be astonished in the event that you lose all track of time completely devoted to them.

Neues Museum: There are exhibitions for Ancient Rome and Greece, however, it's the Egyptian shows that pull in the groups and none more so than the bust of Queen Nefertiti. Made in 1855, annihilated in 1945 and now reawakened, the Neues Museum had been left to spoil for the whole post-War period. At last, after reunification plans were set up its depository of antiquated ancient rarities was at long last moved from the Altes Museum back to its legitimate home in 2009.

Deutsches Historisches Museum: Here you can look long and hard at Weimar political decision banners, bicycles from the nineteenth century, flawless American gracefully drops from the Berlin Blockade and home machines from the GDR or currently there's a colossal show of 7,000 curios masterminded in sequential order. In the Zeughaus, one of the numerous palatial structures on Unter cave Linden, the German Historical Museum uncovers 2,000 years of German history.

Museum Island

Eat

Berlin is the capital of Germany and you certainly can expect to enjoy some great German cuisine right here. The food that you get to indulge in shall be a window into the German culture, traditions, and it shall certainly help you bond better with the local people. Hence, in this section of the article, we shall list out a few of the most popular dishes that you must try whenever you visit the city:

Currywurst: Currywurst is generally made of pork sausage with a sauce produced using ketchup and curry powder. Designed in Berlin by Herta Heuwer in 1949, these fixings were sourced from British officers after the war and served on a flame-broiled sausage. In Berlin and Hamburg, it is presented with fries and a bread roll. These days the currywurst is Germany's most mainstream sausage and there is even a historical centre that praises it.

Bratwurst: One of the most mainstream street nourishments in Germany is the bratwurst. These are a kind of new sausage, ordinarily made with pork and veal, and prepared with ginger, nutmeg, coriander, or caraway. It is served barbecued with a marginally firm skin and stacked up with mustard and ketchup. You can likewise have it with sauerkraut and mustard, or essentially in a bread roll. They are regularly flame-broiled over sizzling grill stands all over Germany, particularly in summer.

Schnitzel: Albeit a schnitzel is regarded as an Austrian dish, it's incredibly well known in Germany. The Wiener Schnitzel, a cutlet covered in breadcrumbs with cheddar and ham sandwiched inside, is presented with a plate of mixed greens and potatoes is very popular in Berlin and you must try it whether or not you are an avid food lover.

Sauerbraten: With it being coined as one of the national dishes of Germany, the sauerbraten is frequently the fundamental star in eateries' menus. This healthy stew is customarily presented with red cabbage and potato dumplings locally known as kartoffelklöße or bubbled potatoes. The German pot cook is a profound and delectable healthy stew of delicate meat, marinated in softening vinegar and different flavours. It generally includes long periods of marinating beef, horse meat or venison in a wine vinegar blend more than a few days.

In addition to these, there are a host of other dishes that you can devour in Berlin, more about these and the restaurants at which you can find the best meals are listed in detail in the sections below, so keep on perusing to know more.

Bratwurst

Traditional Local Restaurants

Thomas Eck: This restaurant has all the features of a conventional bar, however one that serves excellent upscale meals as well. It ought to be an eating destination for those looking for supper with loads of meat especially pork. The long menu has all the Berlin special sausages a few to be named are Eisbein, simmered pork with goulash, sausages, Königsberger klopse, sauerkraut, and other sausages. There are around twelve lagers on tap, generally all from huge distilleries, including Czech mix Pilsner Urquell, Schultheiss, and the Jever.

Zur Haxe: Try not to be excessively frightened by the lederhosen-and-dirndl-clad staff. They prefer dressing as such. The forte here is nothing unexpected and comes as a major old pork dish, explicitly, schinkenhaxe, which is a fat pork knuckle with seared pork cracklings sprinkled around it. The journey to this restaurant might well be a long and tedious one but once you get a taste of some of those authentic dishes, it shall be worth it and you shall get a glimpse into Bavarian cuisine.

Zur Letzten Instanz: The thing to arrive is the Eisbein, a softball-sized pork knuckle that accompanies kraut. It's sufficient to take care of a little family or maybe cause an artery in your heart to be blocked even before you finish. As anyone might expect, it has had some great guests, including Napoleon and Beethoven, just as a small bunch of German chancellors and different heads of state. Built-up in this equivalent spot in the year 1621, this uber-customary café is the most established eatery in the German capital.

Lebensmittel: A crossbreed restaurant and southern German café, Lebensmittel which translates to "food" in German is a strong decision in case you're in the Mitte region. On the warmer days, pull up a chair outside and examine the blackboard of changing menus. The wine list has a decision determination of German and Austrian wines. It's difficult for the meal to turn out badly with anything you order here.

Zur Kleinen Markthalle: As the name recommends, this environmental Kreuzberg restaurant started life as a nineteenth-century indoor food lobby or market. Tragically, the greater part of these secured markets have since closed down yet Zur Kleinen Markthalle was spared kind of by turning into a customary Berlin café and bar. The menu is stacked with works of art however the genuine motivation to come here, the thing they do truly well, is the fresh half chicken. The meat is delicate and succulent and the skin is rigid and firm. You shall enjoy your meal here and it shall serve to be a great local dining experience as well.

Mädchen ohne Abitur: This dazzling Kreuzberg eatery serves top-notch German food, to such an extent you'll, in the end, quit thinking what the name is about. The menu is blended in with top-notch customary admission Königsberger klopse which are basically German meatballs and Berlin-style singed veal liver just as more common dishes like curries and some Italian dishes.

Max und Moritz: Presenting porcine enjoyments and obstructing corridors since 1902, Max und Moritz is an exquisite treat for the faculties. Enjoy the Wilhelmine furniture that is as yet spread around adding to the dining experience on the whole. The menu hasn't changed a lot, either. Expect old Berliner fortes like generous hamburger goulash, hefty measured pork knuckle called Eisbein, smoked pork and sauerkraut, and Königsberger klopse, conventional meatballs swimming in a cream trick sauce.

Vegetarian and Vegan

Plant Base: A vegan lover bistro and book shop established in the year 2019 has gained great fame and serves breakfast and lunch plates, offering bagels, tofu scramble and kimchi, granola bowls, new cakes. Beverages incorporate juices, hot cocoa, and lattes. Comprehensive space, pet-accommodating, and serves basic tap water. Items are as reasonably sourced as could be expected under the circumstances, with most things made in-house. Holds workshops and occasions, for example, vegan lover book clubs, cooking classes, and talks.

Vedang Plant Burger: A fast-food restaurant that opened May 2019 inside the shopping centre has grabbed the attention of scores with some of the most delicious vegan food it offers. They serve an assortment of plant-based burgers in addition to drinks like iced tea and sparkling water, desserts like frozen yoghurt, and sides like fries, cheese fries, wedges, and nuggets. Request at the counter, and make the most of your dinner at the food court's shared seating.

Ataya: A prominent vegan eatery serving breakfast and lunch during the week and Afro-Italian informal breakfast toward the end of the week. With the sample menu available you can try a few interesting dishes, for example, West African Jollof bowl, spaghetti, acai, espresso, crude cakes, smoothies, and vegan lasagna. Lounge room style inside with books to peruse and a radiant patio. Being a kid and canine amicable joint to visit, you can take all loved ones here. It is a no laptop zone, is plastic-free and zero wastage policies enforced.

Street Food

The street food in Berlin is legendary and as a tourist, there are plenty of places for you to visit and enjoy some of the delectable goodies. This includes various types of cuisines from all across the globe and it isn’t solely limited to Bavarian cuisine. In this section of the article we shall list out some of the prominent street food dishes and the restaurants/carts at which you can relish them, so keep reading:

Bite Club: Most likely the greatest and slickest road food occasion around, Bite Club blasts into life each fortnight at a riverside spot in Kreuzberg. In the wake of snatching armloads of obscure food and alcohol from around the globe from a bunch of vans, slows down and bars, cafes scramble onto the 'Hoppetosse', a secured vessel to jeer anything from gourmet ribs, burgers and servings of mixed greens to natively constructed Indian, Asian and African chomps.

Mauerpark: It is the scandalous frugal thrift market and park karaoke meeting place in Berlin. Each Sunday local people and vacationers head over to the immense park in Prenzlauer Berg to scrounge for used fortunes, serenade guests, and make the most of its differing food market. Uniting a scope of culinary styles, including Japanese, German, Chinese, Spanish, Polish, and Korean, and a food store committed to presenting immaculate French fries, there is a bit of something for everybody at this vintage and street food market.

Thai Park: It springs up in Wilmersdorfer Preußenpark, is a Berlin establishment that has been flourishing among the city's Asian people group for quite a long time. Basically, when the climate's decent enough if there is no downpour or day off, its sensibly warm, lines of Thai women serve up panfuls of enticing home cooking, going from curries, satays, soups and plates of mixed greens to absurdly brilliant treats and mixed drinks. With a warm, loosened up family environment, heaps of noodles and significantly more, it's one of the most credible Bangkok food encounters you'll locate this side of the world.

Drink

The people of Germany are known to be very enthusiastic about their alcohol and this extends to both alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic ones, given below is a list of some from both categories.

The most popular non-alcoholic drinks that you can enjoy in Berlin are mostly soda based, apart from fresh juices these are the favourites, so try these:

Fassbrause
Apfelschorle
Club-Mate
Spezi

Beyond the non-alcoholic drinks, the Germans in Berlin are known to enjoy their alcohol mainly in the form of beer. The world famous Oktoberfest is testament to just that, hence, given below is a list of popular alcoholic drinks for you to dabble in on your trip to the city:

Rauchbier
Kräuterlikör
Dunkel
Weissbier
Jägermeister
Schnaps
Riesling

Tap-water

Drinking tap water in Berlin shall be perfectly fine for most tourists from across the globe. The water meets the necessary standards of the local authorities which are considered to be pretty high. However, in the event that you are in doubt, you can always opt for bottled mineral water, however, this may be a slightly expensive proposition.

Organic Cafés

Organic cafés with privately developed food is getting progressively well known in Berlin. Just as the more customary döner kebabs, currywurst und meatballs, you can discover 'vöner' also known as vegetarian kebabs, organic currywurst and other vegan and vegetarian dishes. Given below are some of the popular organic cafés for you to explore in Berlin:

Witty’s
Biotopia Berlin
Rawtastic
Café Tasso

Breweries

Knowing the passion that Germans have for their beer, you can expect world-class fresh brews at some of the breweries listed below:

Hops and Barley
Vagabund Brauerei
Eschenbräu Brauerei
Heidenpeters
Straßenbräu

Activities

Berlin is literally a green city and with numerous parks and gardens to visit, the first activity on your list should be a walking or bicycle tour to enjoy offbeat sightseeing. Taking a boat ride on the river or going for a hike with a group of local friends is also a great option. Just try and maximise your connection with nature while indulging in such interesting activities.

Yoga and Retreats

Yoga is a globally trending form of exercise and a country such as Germany shall not be left far behind while catching up with any fad. Yoga may not exactly be the most popular form of exercise but with increasing awareness and a good deal of enthusiasm you can find many Germans at some of the yoga retreats that you too can visit from the list given below:

Yoga Klub Berlin
Yoga Sky
Sita Tara Yoga
Jivamukti
Yogafürdich
Sun Yoga

Accommodation

Berlin is the capital city of the country of Germany and you can be damn sure of the fact that it has a wide host of accommodation options. Boasting of almost more than 30 million overnight stays annually, the city is home to over 1000 hotels and you have a wide range of options to choose from. More so, all of these hotels cater to different customers and have tariffs suited to the travellers needs. Needless to say the amenities shall be in line with the tariffs, but be assured all the basics shall be covered and the necessary standards shall be met.

Green Hotels

Landmark Eco Hotel: Landmark Eco Hotel was redesigned in 2014 to make it earth amicable. The inn is a five-minute walk around the Kurfürstendamm shopping road and a ten-minute stroll from Lake Lietzensee. A solid breakfast buffet is accessible every morning and the lodging utilizes occasional new produce. Rooms are vitality effective and incorporate quality bed material, a TV with link channels and a private restroom.

Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz: It is an eco-friendly current lodging situated close to the Potsdamer Platz amusement locale of focal Berlin. Around 60% of the goods are produced using reused materials. Open rooms highlight French windows, air-cooling frameworks, a level screen TV and free Wi-Fi.

Lulu Guldsmeden: This earth-friendly and Green Globe bestowed lodging highlights an advanced plan with a Nordic style. The lodging is set in a notable structure from 1850 however offers every advanced solace, including an eatery serving natural dishes. A full natural breakfast is served every morning alongside occasional claims to fame. Bikes are accessible for investigating the city. Private restrooms highlight free natural toiletries.

Hostels and Guest Houses

Berlin as a whole attracts a lot of budget travellers, explorers, and students, many of them prefer to ditch the conventional hotels and live in hostels, some of the feature-rich and pocket-friendly hostels in town are:

Plus Berlin: This noteworthy structure used to be a fashion institute and endured both World Wars. Situated in Friedrichshain, a refined territory close to the East Side Gallery, this inn has an indoor pool and sauna which are uncommon finds with regards to inns. It's somewhat of an elegant spot and offers some inn advantages at lodging costs. They likewise offer a free shot to all visitors, so you're hoping to party on a tight spending plan you should remain here.

ONE80°: Found only a couple of steps from Alexanderplatz, this lodging is perfect, loaded up with current civilities, and has excessively delicate beddings. Berlin's broad transport, metro, and the cable car is actually simply outside the front entryway. The staff here composes visits, including a free strolling visit, a bar crawl, and an outing to Sachsenhausen.

Meininger Berlin Tiergarten: This inn feels more like an explorer/hiker inn. The living areas are roomy, the beds have agreeable beddings, there are huge extra rooms, and rooms have ensuite restrooms. The hostel is essential for a chain that extends across Europe, and you'll frequently think that it is utilized for bunch visits, student outings, and families.

Apartments

Renting apartments is known to be quite popular in Berlin. As a tourist, you too can explore this option and while there may be a few genuine safety concerns, if you book an apartment in a reputed neighbourhood through reliable applications or channels, you shall be good to go. Airbnb is also very much the primary choice for most tourists while renting apartments in the city.

Couchsurfing

Couch Surfing is extremely common in Berlin and it is not an alien concept to many here. As a tourist, you could browse through a few websites, find suitable hosts, establish contact, finalise things and you are good to go. Always remember to help out your host, keep things clean and show your gratitude through a small token of appreciation.

Camping

The people of Berlin are known to be very enthusiastic about outdoor activities, this also includes camping. Some of the prominent locations to go for a hike and enjoy a nice camp are:

DCC Camping Kladow
Camping Gatow
Hotel & City Camping Nord
Backpackers Paradise

How to Get There

Berlin is one of the greenest cities not just in Germany and Europe but also across the globe and as a result of this, you can find plenty of sustainable ways to reach the city, some of these are listed in the sections below, keep reading to know more.

Air

The city is served by the Berlin Brandenburg airport and as a tourist, it shall be your primary choice of airport to land in as most of the airlines operate out of here. Lufthansa is the national carrier and can be considered to be one of the greenest options amongst air travel for you. The airport is well connected to the city via all means of transportation and that shouldn’t play as a major worry in your mind.

Berlin Brandenburg airport

Bus

Zentraler Omnibusbahnhof Berlin is the major bus terminal for inter-city buses in Berlin and youc an always book a comfortable bus from any other destination within Germany to reach here. The buses operated by both the government and the private operators are known to be very comfortable and ecologically sustainable with hybrid technology being increasingly used.

Bus in Berlin

Train

The Deutsche Bahn is responsible for running long-distance trains to neighbouring cities and towns. As a tourist, it is your best option if you wish to reach Berlin via rail.

Train in Berlin

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is quite acceptable in Berlin and many Germans are comfortable giving tourists a ride in their swanky German cars. The people are polite and hospitable but again the risks involved shall remain albeit in lesser percentages.

Others

Beyond these means of transportation, you can always explore water ways to reach Berlin but they are more focussed within the city itself and can maybe link you from outer regions of the city to bustling points but nothing more, however, these solar power boats shall appeal to the eco-friendly traveller in you.

Moving Around

Berlin as a city itself is known to be quite large and exploring the city shall require you to consider quite a few different means of transportation, in this section of the article we shall discuss a few of these and help you pick the greenest ways to travel.

Walk

Walking around Berlin is an excellent way to discover the city. Not only do you have dedicated walking spaces, but there are also curated walking tours that help you explore a few scenic parts of the city on foot, so you must consider this option more seriously than ever.

Bicycle

Bicycles are a commonly used mode of transportation in Berlin. With dedicated bicycle lanes and a ratio as high as 710 bicycles per 1000 residents, you can expect ease of access. Renting bicycles is very easy as a tourist, get your gear on and start exploring the city.

Electronic Vehicles

Since Germany is the pioneer of passenger vehicles for centuries altogether, you certainly can expect cutting edge technology when it comes to electric vehicles. You can find plenty of private ones, plenty taxis, and plenty of self-drive rentals as well.

Public Bus

The means of public transportation are continuously evolving and the buses are at the forefront. Not only do they connect different parts of the city well but they also run on electricity too. However, the newer technology implemented here goes as far as hydrogen-powered buses as well, so be assured of the eco-friendly traveller in you being completely satisfied.

Tram, Train and Subway

In Berlin, you shall find the metro rail named as S-Bahn while the underground is named as U-Bahn, both operate on electricity and are highly efficient while catering to almost all corners of the city. Similarly, you shall find a tram network too and this runs on special tracks that maximise efficiency.

Sustainable Shopping

Shopping sustainably is an important aspect of maintaining balance in the society, the small stores often cater to specific needs with sustainably manufactured products, they don’t necessarily operate for profits but they do serve to be interesting places especially for tourists who are looking for some rare items and fine craftsmanship.

Food Markets

With food ranging from Bavarian cuisine to cuisines from all corners of the globe, some of the popular food markets in town are:

Arminiusmarkthalle: There is a scope of various foods specked around the high roof lobby, with features including the Alabama-style ribs at Pignut BBQ, and the Austrian schnitzels and blutwurst at Hofladen.

Street Food Thursdays: Each Thursday in the core of Kreuzberg at Markthalle Neun, Berlin's street food specialists accumulate to bring guests the best in food, wine, lager, and culture.

Flea Markets

Arkonaplatz Market: offers an opportunity to find mid-century furniture from the 1950s and 1960s, revamped or in extraordinary condition. Besides this, stunning knickknacks, vinyls, tapes, garments and collectables can likewise be found at this market.

Rathaus Schöneberg: The market has around 70 stalls offering second-hand garments, electronic gadgets, books, vinyl records and numerous knickknacks and fortunes for guests to uncover.

Arkonaplatz Market

Second Hand Stores

Mühlenmarkt: The vintage market held at Berlin's adored techno club, Griessmühle is the spot to go for second-hand dress deals. This market runs from afternoon until late and offers apparel, shoes, books and craftsmanship.

Nowkoelln Markt: Nowkoelln offers second-hand deals by the Spree. With a gigantic scope of vintage and second-hand attire, furniture, craftsmanship, books and knickknacks, it's the ideal spot to chase for some all-around valued dives in one of Berlin's coolest neighbourhoods.

Mühlenmarkt

Eco-Fashion

Eco-fashion is a big deal in Berlin and as a tourist you shall find not just small stores but major fashion brands dabbling in this segment. Eco-fashion here includes items of clothings and accessories both.

Recycling

Germany is one of the leading nations in the world when recycling is concerned. With a host of initiatives to cut off the amount of material used and manufactures to incentives for citizens eager to recycle, Berlin being the capital is a role model for other cities to follow.

Waste

The Germans are known to be efficient in almost all their tasks and the same can be said about the way in which they collect their waste and dispose of it. There are clear labels and separate bins for different kinds of waste, with most residents being aware of colour schemes and wrapping up of hazardous materials as well.

Work and Study Abroad

Needless to even mention how popular Germany as a whole is amongst foreign students looking to gain a good higher education degree. Being the hub of engineering and technology, Berlin as a city definitely sees scores of students making their way here annually.

Exchange Student

The local universities are renowned across the globe and they offer scholarships and various exchange programs as well. Most of it depends upon your scores, German language abilities and final round of interviews.

Au Pair

Au Pair as a concept is quite popular in Berlin and you can find various families through popular websites, just pick the most attractive offer and head there to meet and finalise things, or do so via video calling.

Volunteering

Giving back to society is an important part of life and you can do just that by volunteering. In Berlin, it isn’t a surprise that you can find scores of opportunities to volunteer on websites and apps itself. Pick a cause that you believe in the most and go lend a hand.